A/N: Yay! Update! This has to be a personal record, especially coming from me. The notorious once-a-month (if that) updating author. I also want to thank everyone that reviewed, I really loved your feedback! It's what motivated me to update so fast! So you know what to do at the end of this chapter, right? (wink wink nudge nudge)

Anyway, onward to the next chapter!

Kohaku let out a sigh as he readjusted his backpack, again. He had done it at least five times since leaving the Annex, leaving his professor's office. His professor who just so happened to be a demon.

"Hn," Kohaku grunted with a wry smile, "even I think I'm crazy," he muttered. How could he accept such an outlandish thing? Sure, he had seen it with his own eyes, but what had he really seen? A student breathe fire like a dragon, a woman with the ability to control the wind around her? It sounded more like some messed up dream. He was a normal kid, living a normal life. That was it. At least, that's what he kept telling himself.

He glanced up at the setting sun as he walked, wondering how he would confront his sister about the whole demon hunting business that she had kept hidden from him for so long. She was the last resource he had left to deny the whole thing. The only one who could keep him sane. Once she told him it wasn't real, he could write off the whole experience with his teacher as a bad dream and move on with his life.

But I promised I wouldn't tell anyone about her, he thought, and paused as he gazed at the sidewalk. While he wanted to tell his sister about what had happened, he knew he couldn't. He didn't know what a demon slayer was, and figured it was for a reason. His professor had promised not to tell anyone about him, and he had to trust her. Likewise, she had trusted him not to talk about her, either. He had to respect the verbal agreement that they had made with each other.

He was momentarily distracted by movement out of the corner of his eye, and glanced up to spot a familiar pair of thickly rimmed glasses across the street. He blinked in surprise when he spotted her, but counted his blessings. He could use a little company.

"Hey," he greeted happily with a wave from the other side of the street. His classmate paused before she glanced over to him and waved back with a smile. Taking that as an invitation, Kohaku walked across the street to meet her.

"How's it going?" Kohaku asked once he made it to her side, and she gave a little shrug. He didn't miss the slight smile though, and wondered if something good happened. He wanted to ask her, but didn't want to pressure her either. She'd talk to him when she was ready.

"It looks like something good happened today," Kohaku added with a smile, "I'm glad,"

His classmate smiled before she nodded her thanks. They continued to walk down the street in comfortable silence before she suddenly stopped and looked up at him. Kohaku watched her as she started to signal him about something. She waved her hand horizontally towards him a couple of times, and Kohaku stared at her before it clicked.

"You want to know how my day was?" he tried, and smiled triumphantly when she nodded excitedly, "well, it's been a day. That's for sure," he sighed as his shoulders sagged. He wanted to open up about what happened, but his promise to his professor kept his mouth shut.

What his classmate did next surprised him. She gently patted his arm to get his attention before she smiled and shook her head. While she hadn't said anything, he could tell that she meant he didn't need to tell her about it.

"Thanks," he smiled as his body relaxed. His classmate nodded with an understanding look before they continued walking again.

"Are you heading home now?" Kohaku asked, casting a sideways glance her way. She merely nodded in return.

"Me too," he commented as he readjusted his backpack before he flinched when the strap grazed the burn mark along his arm. His classmate didn't immediately react, but he didn't miss the worried look that flashed in her eyes before she glanced at the sidewalk.

"It's getting late. Do you want me to walk you home?" Kohaku asked, hoping to lighten the mood. She paused for a moment before she hesitantly nodded with a shy smile. A large grin spread across Kohaku's face at the development. She hadn't talked to him, but walking her home was a start! She was starting to trust him.

"Alright, then lead the way!" Kohaku added with a light laugh. Her cheeks flushed before she nodded and her shy smile turned into a brilliant one. He let her walk a few steps ahead of him, and was amazed at the sudden confidence she exuded. Whatever had happened to her must have really been something to put her in such a good mood.

Her body swayed to a slow rhythm as she walked, and before long she began to hum. His eyes nearly popped out of his head at the realization that she was the one humming. He didn't dare to breathe as he listened to the sound.

She kept her eyes trained ahead and soon her head started to bob to the rhythm of her humming. She acted like he wasn't even there. The feeling was surreal, like he was watching something he shouldn't have the privilege to see.

They continued like that for what could have been hours, days, but were probably only minutes. When the sound began to soften, and eventually disappear, his classmate glanced back at him nervously.

"You sounded great," he said, and felt like beating his head against a wall when she darted her eyes away and looked even more self-conscious. Why couldn't he ever say the right thing? Especially now, when she was finally feeling comfortable around him.

"I'm sorry, I've just never heard you make a sound before. It was nice," Kohaku commented honestly with the slight flush of his cheeks. She glanced back at him with those large eyes of hers before a brief, shy smile spread across her face. It disappeared far too quickly, and Kohaku couldn't help the slight clenching in his chest.

"You should smile more," he said with a smile of his own, "you have a pretty smile," he added in what he hoped was a friendly manner. She glanced back at him again before her own cheeks turned a rosy red. She gave a slight nod before her smile reappeared.

"Just like that," Kohaku nodded as he made a makeshift camera with his hands, "Perfect!" he grinned, her face in the center of the invisible frame. Her cheeks grew even redder before her smile grew, and a soft sound left her lips. He wasn't sure if he had imagined it, or if it had simply been the wind, but it sounded like she had laughed. Either way, he was enchanted by the sound. She was opening up, and it was a beautiful thing to witness firsthand.

"Come on," Kohaku coaxed as his hands fell to his sides, "it's getting dark. We better get you home," he added as he signaled her to continue leading him. She gave him a confident nod before she turned and began walking again.

They continued like that, in silence once more, but Kohaku hardly minded. He was reliving the personal victories that he experienced with her in his mind. He only hoped she continued to open herself up to him. He was a trustworthy person, and wanted her to know that she wouldn't get hurt if she let him into her world.

He paused when he noticed her stop in front of a couple of buildings. She turned to him before she pointed to the one in the middle.

"Is that you?" he asked, and she nodded with a smile, "well that's great! You're right off campus. It must be nice to live so close to everything," he stated, and his classmate gave him another nod. He walked with her the rest of the way until they made it to the door.

She glanced at the building for a moment before she turned to him and bowed her head in thanks.

"Whoa! There's no need to thank me so formally," Kohaku said while waving his hands frantically in embarrassment, "I volunteered to walk you, remember?" he added with a smile. His classmate gazed at him for a moment, perplexed, before she smiled and nodded happily. He would have said his goodbyes to her there and left, but someone coming out of her building had other plans.

"Hey! What do you think you're doing?!" a male voice snarled as Kohaku was suddenly grabbed by the collar and hoisted above the ground. He let out a surprised grunt before he grabbed hold of the man's arm, trying to release his hold. The man holding him captive had long silver hair and golden eyes that blazed angrily. His classmate let out a faint gasp before she tried to pull on the man's shirt. She obviously knew him, but why had he lashed out at him?

"You're the one, aren't you?!" The man spat as he shrugged his classmate's hands off of his arm and shoved Kohaku against the nearest wall of the apartment building, "The one who attacked Rin?" he growled the question, and for a moment Kohaku was sure the man's eyes had flashed red.

His own expression darkened at the news. His classmate had been attacked? Since when? Why hadn't she told anyone? Oh right, she doesn't talk very much, he reminded himself. She probably wanted to keep the incident quiet, and didn't want it becoming public knowledge.

"She was attacked? When? By who?" Kohaku fired questions back, and the man's hold loosened as his angry golden gaze faltered. The man glanced at Rin, his classmate who finally had a name, for confirmation that he wasn't the guy who had attacked her. She didn't say anything, but the plea in her eyes was loud enough that words weren't needed. He wasn't the man who had attacked her.

"Feh," the man huffed as he let go of Kohaku and he stumbled before he regained his footing. Kohaku gazed from one to the other for some type of explanation, but neither looked like they were going to tell him anything.

"Isn't someone going to tell me anything? I just got attacked myself! No one's going to give me an explanation?" Kohaku asked as he looked at the pair. Rin ducked her head from his gaze, and the man refused to meet his gaze at all.

"Fine, don't tell me," Kohaku grumbled before his expression softened as his eyes fell on Rin. She looked scared, and possibly embarrassed that Kohaku had found out about the attack. Was she really that scarred from it? What, exactly, happened to her?

"I don't know if you go around attacking any man that walks Rin home, but if something serious is happening..." Kohaku began, and looked away, unsure of how to finish his own statement. Was he about to promise that he'd protect her? Could he really do that? He thought about the demon student who had attacked his professor, and of his professor herself. There were powerful beings out there that he didn't fully understand. What if he couldn't protect her from who or whatever was attacking her?

"It's none of your business," the stranger growled at him, "I saw a man with Rin, and reacted on impulse. I'll look more carefully the next time,"

"That doesn't change the fact that you feel it's necessary to do that!" Kohaku pointed out angrily, "No one goes around attacking random people on an impulse, unless it's a protective impulse. Something must have happened to...to..." Kohaku's words fell away as he looked over to Rin and saw the tears that were threatening to fall. Was what happened to her really that traumatic? Or was she embarrassed that he found out something was happening? All of the questions left unanswered swirled in Kohaku's mind, and made him feel utterly powerless.

"Rin, I..." Kohaku began, and felt his chest constrict painfully when she adverted her eyes and turned her head away from him. She had receded into herself again. They had made such progress, too. Just let me in, he silently pleaded her with his eyes. But she didn't see it, because she still refused to look at him. Whether it was out of anger or embarrassment, he couldn't be sure.

"I'll...I'll see you in class," Kohaku finished off, and inwardly flinched at how cold it sounded. See her in class? Like finding out she was being harassed, possibly attacked, by someone wasn't a big deal? But he didn't know what else to say, and he didn't want to subject her to any more questions.

Rin nodded her head solemnly, and didn't react with Kohaku waved goodbye as he turned and began walking away. The man by her side still blocked her protectively from his view as Kohaku withheld a sigh and continued on.

When he could no longer see the two, Kohaku kept his eyes trained on the sidewalk. He had taken one step forward towards Rin finally trusting him, and then two steps back with this little episode. He only hoped there was something he could do to make it up to her.

Rin watched her classmate leave before she dared to swipe at the tears threatening to fall. She had wanted to tell him about the man who had attacked her, but she just couldn't. She...felt like it would be wrong to force him into the middle of this mess. She also felt the pressure to explain consume her, and she just wasn't ready for that.

On the other hand, she had been mortified by Inuyasha's actions, but even more embarrassed when Inuyasha let the information about her attack slip. She had never asked him to protect her, and was worried he had just scared off one of her only friends.

"Was that guy really only walking you home?" Inuyasha asked as he turned around to give her a once over, searching for any injuries. Rin nodded her head before she furrowed her brows and swiped at Inuyasha's arm angrily.

"Hey! How was I supposed to know he wasn't harassing you? All I saw was him standing close to you, and I thought the worst. Kagome told me about how you were attacked, but didn't give me any characteristics of the guy. I thought that could have been him, and went to protect you!" he explained exasperatedly as Rin gave him a pointed shove before she suddenly pulled him in for a hug. She was angry at him for reacting without thinking, but knew he had done it because he had really thought she was in trouble. She couldn't be angry at him for that.

Inuyasha stiffened slightly before he let out a heavy sigh and returned her hug.

"I'm sorry. I reacted without thinking, I know. But goddammit Rin, Kagome and I have both been worrying about you," he stated gruffly, and his embrace tightened slightly as he rested his chin atop her head, "We weren't there for you when you needed us most, and now we both want to make sure that never happens again. Believe it or not, you're like the sister we never had, so you better not put yourself in any more dangerous situations,"

Rin nodded slowly against Inuyasha's shirt as she hugged him tightly in response before they let each other go. Inuyasha gazed down at her with a slight smirk before he casually ran his hand through her bangs, messing them up as he went.

"Come on, let's go upstairs. Kagome's made one hell of a dinner for us," he stated, and his smirk widened when Rin pushed his hand away with a pout before she smoothed down her bangs while she playfully glared at him.

"Oh, and one more thing," Inuyasha began as they walked into the building, "can you not tell Kagome about what happened? She'd kill me if she found out," he added hopefully, only to flinch when a mischievous glint twinkled in Rin's eyes.

"You – You're gonna tell her, aren't you?" Inuyasha asked, and Rin could practically see him envisioning all the horrible things Kagome would do to him when she found out he lashed out without thinking. She gave him a harmless shrug before Inuyasha's eyes narrowed suspiciously.

"You're going to keep it to yourself until it benefits you," he concluded, and let out an angry sound when Rin merely shrugged again, "Promise me, woman! I want to live to see tomorrow!" he added, but Rin still refused to utter a word.

They made it up to her apartment just as Kagome finished setting the table, and she greeted the two with a brilliant smile. "Welcome home!" she said, and paused when she saw the two share a glance before Inuyasha looked uncomfortable.

"What happened?" she asked, picking up on the "subtle" cues her boyfriend was sending her best friend to keep quiet. She crossed her arms over her chest expectantly, and when neither said a word she grabbed Rin's arm and hastily dragged her into her room. She shut the door behind them before she whirled around to face Rin.

"Alright, Inuyasha isn't here. Now, tell me everything," Kagome commanded.

"I – He – Well, you see – " Rin began, relieved that she could finally talk freely. She wasn't so relieved that she had to spill everything to Kagome. She had really hoped to use the information against Inuyasha, if only for a little while. He had teased her more than enough times, knowing full well that she wouldn't say anything back. This information had finally given Rin some ammo to use against him.

"Out with it," Kagome ordered, giving Rin a look that indicated that she meant business. Rin straightened in surprise before she let out a light sigh.

"He thought I was being attacked by a man outside, but I wasn't. A friend from class was walking me home, and Inuyasha assumed the worst and attacked him. He interrogated him like he thought Kohaku was the man that had harassed me. An event that I thought was going to remain between us," Rin pointed out, to which Kagome straightened before she looked away guiltily.

"You know I can't keep quiet around him, Rin. He practically lives here with me, and we're getting pretty serious in our relationship. He knows how to get me to talk," Kagome confessed before her expression sharpened, "and you said he attacked your friend?"

"Yeah. Next time, if you're going to tell Inuyasha anything, make sure he knows the whole story," Rin grimaced, already dreading the fact that she was going to have to face Kohaku sometime. Being unable to talk to him was going to make trying to patch up their friendship that much harder.

"I'm sorry, Rin. I had him wait at the door for you," Kagome admitted as she looked at Rin sadly, "I was so worried that man was going to follow you here, and Inuyasha could at least put up a fight against another man. I'd be utterly useless," she added, and glanced worriedly at Rin. As if she was going to lash out at her, but she was surprised to see tears well up in her friend's eyes.

"Rin?" she asked, and was instantly pulled into an embrace. Rin held her friend close as she let a few tears fall down her cheeks.

"Thank you," she murmured, "for worrying about me. I've forgotten how good it feels to have someone worry so much over you,"

"Oh, Rin," Kagome sighed with a smile as she brushed a few of Rin's tears away, "it isn't only me, sweetheart. Inuyasha is worried about you too. You should have seen how protective he became once I told him about the attack. Like an overprotective guard dog," she giggled as she returned the embrace and held Rin close to her. The girls enjoyed each others embrace for a moment longer before they broke away.

Rin glanced at her friend, and debated on telling her about the scare she had earlier that morning, but decided against it. She didn't want to worry her friend further. Besides, she had gotten away and that man hadn't tried to pursue her.

"So," Kagome began before a smile appeared on her face, "you made a male friend in class, hmm?" she asked, and laughed with Rin's cheeks flushed in embarrassment. "I'm glad. Have...you tried to talk to him?" she asked, and Rin shook her head.

"I'm...trying to open up more," Rin said, and Kagome nodded her head in understanding.

"Small steps," Kagome replied before she took her friend's hand and gave it a friendly squeeze, "I remember how long it took you to open up to me, and I'm not even a..." Kagome trailed off as she bit her lip worriedly. Rin could tell she hadn't meant to bring that up, but she knew why she had.

"A man?" Rin finished for her, and Kagome nodded her head.

"I'm sorry, Rin. I know you don't like to talk about what happened," Kagome said before Rin gave her hand a squeeze back.

"It's alright. It'll happen, one day," Rin replied with a smile. Kagome nodded back before she wound an arm around Rin's shoulders.

"I know it will. Now, let's go eat," Kagome suggested warmly, and Rin smiled before the girls left to rejoin the guard dog angrily muttering to himself in the kitchen.

Kohaku set his backpack down on the couch in the living room and glanced up in surprise when he noticed his sister in the kitchen. Their small apartment above her office was meant for one person, but they made it work. The floor plan was small, which meant the kitchen was right by the living room. In fact, if there hadn't been a wall divider in between the two spaces they would have been part of the same room.

"Hey, you're home," Kohaku commented as Sango turned to give him a brief smile before she returned to what she had been doing before he came in.

"And you're home late," she replied, "did something happen?"

"I walked my classmate home," he answered as his gaze fell upon the plate of uneaten dinner on his side of the table. He happily sat down and began eating, before he glanced over to his sister. She had three manilla folders open with pictures of girls and numerous papers filled with information within them. She glanced from one to the next before she began to jot notes down in her notepad, and returned her gaze to the pictures.

Case files, Kohaku concluded as he happily consumed his dinner in silence. It was only when Sango closed all three files that she broke the silence.

"Why did you pick these girls?" she muttered to herself.

"You think they're connected?" Kohaku asked back, and Sango looked up at him in alarm before she solemnly nodded her head. She must not have known that he had heard her.

"They all seem too alike not to be," she informed him, "shy, timid girls with no family to speak of. Young brunette girls with petite frames who mainly kept to themselves. No occupation or romantic partners. At least, that's the testimony from the witnesses that reported them missing. No one knew any of the girls well, so it took some time for anyone to notice their disappearances. They all were reported missing from this area within weeks of each other. It can't just be coincidence that they all disappeared around the same time,"

"You think they're being kidnapped for some other purpose?" Kohaku asked, already feeling like a pro after hearing his sister talk through many of her missing person cases with him.

"Possibly?" she asked back uncertainly, "These girls were pretty too. Perhaps they were taken to be used in some undercover prostitute business, or for drug trafficking? There could be a serial killer on the loose as well, who just prefers this type of female victim. We haven't found any bodies yet, but we haven't found the girls either. Regardless of what's going on, I have to find these girls and the ones responsible before more girls go missing,"

"Of course," Kohaku agreed, "I take it you'll be gone for awhile, then?"

"Or coming home late," Sango answered with a grimace, "I know you just started the semester, but I may end up ruining your sleeping schedule. I'll try to sleep on the couch if I come home at an ungodly hour,"

"You don't need to worry about me. I'll survive," Kohaku assured her, "It was worse when you followed that blade butcher case all four years of my high school career. At least I'll know you'll be home every once in awhile this time," he added with a tight smile. He didn't like remembering the time when his sister was running that case.

She had been gone for months at a time, and he had worried for her safety day in and day out until she called to let him know she was alright. Back then, she had only been able to call every few weeks. It had driven Kohaku nearly insane with fear for her safety. When she finally closed the case, he felt like he could breathe again.

When their parents died, Sango had just started college and Kohaku was starting high school. All they had left were each other. Kohaku never forgot that, and whenever his sister took on a case that kept her out of contact for awhile...he worried about her. He feared the day that he'd get the call telling him that she had died while investigating a case.

"I'll try to be at home more, too," Sango said, also with a tight smile. She had thought the same thing he had, and understood why he didn't like when she disappeared. He knew, like most times, that she'd break her promise. She had no control of a case, and Kohaku knew that she'd follow any clue or suspicion till the bitter end. Even if it meant little sleep or not returning home.

"Don't push yourself," he advised, "I've got a full schedule this semester, so I might not be home very much either," he added with a slight shrug.

"I'm glad you're following your passion for chemistry," Sango commented with a genuine smile, "you were always good at mixing chemicals to make great healing potions and chemical tools. You can really use that skill to help people,"

"Yup," Kohaku agreed while he returned her smile, "which reminds me, do you need anything made for this case?" he asked.

"I've already prepared it," Sango informed him, "I knew you'd be busy with classes, and I didn't want to burden you,"

"It's hardly a burden," Kohaku said before he asked a more serious question, "What type of people do you end up fighting when you take on a case?"

"The typical criminal types," Sango shrugged, "it makes my job a lot easier if I can take my enemy by surprise, which is why your tools always come in handy," she added with a proud smile.

"Have you ever come across anyone...different than the norm?" Kohaku asked.

"Different in what way?" Sango asked back slowly, her growing suspicion of his questions evident on her face.

"I don't know, just different," Kohaku replied with another shrug, hoping to ease her suspicions.

"Not really. I think I've fought just about any and every type of criminal who kidnaps people out there," Sango informed him, her shoulders relaxing as she sat back in her chair.

Kohaku wondered how he could ask his sister about the demon slayer mark on his shoulder, but decided against it. She had tensed at his attempt to turn the conversation in the direction of "different" criminals. There was no doubt in his mind that she'd be unwilling to openly converse about the existence of demons. Let alone tell him anything about his role as a demon slayer. He'd have to be patient, and maybe she'd tell him when she thought he was ready to handle the information.

His professor had said that only a demon slayer could have given him that mark, which meant that Sango must be one herself. She was the only one who trained him, and had the chance to make the mark on his shoulder and pass it off as a battle scar. She must have marked him for a reason, and he could only hope that she told him more about it soon.

"Any more questions?" Sango asked with a teasing smirk. Kohaku returned it with a smile before he shook his head.

"Nope. I'm done," Kohaku answered.

"Then it's my turn to ask the questions," Sango stated before her smirk widened, "so, you walked your little girl friend home?"

"She isn't my – "

"She's a girl, and she's your friend, right?" Sango clarified, and Kohaku slowly nodded, "then she's your girl friend. A girl that's a friend,"

"Now you're just teasing me," Kohaku groaned, knowing full well his sister was doing it on purpose, "and yes, she's a friend, but we're not in any kind of relationship. I just met her in one of my classes the other day. We barely know each other,"

"Do you want her to become something more?" Sango asked, and Kohaku's cheeks flushed before he glanced at the floor.

"It isn't like that,"

"It isn't? But you walked her home. I'm not sure how far she lives from here, but that's a pretty big step for a boy to do for a girl he just met," Sango pointed out, and grinned when Kohaku's face burned even more, "You're so adorable when you're embarrassed," she teased with a giggle.

"Leave me alone," he grumbled, not caring for his sister's teasing, "you don't know the half of it,"

"Did something happen between you two on the way home?" Sango asked. The teasing was gone from her voice, and replaced with concern.

"It's just – you know she doesn't talk a lot. Well, she started to hum for the first time – which I know isn't talking – but it was progress. I thought she was going to open up to me, but then some guy harassed me at her door. He thought I was someone...else," he added.

"Do you think he was her boyfriend?" Sango asked, and looked sympathetic, already assuming that was the reason why he was bothered. Kohaku thought back to his confrontation with the man before he shook his head.

"I don't think so. He wasn't angry that I was with her. He thought I might be hurting her,"

"Hurting her?" Sango repeated in surprise, "was she attacked?"

"That's just it. He thought I was the one who had attacked her, but wouldn't elaborate on it once he knew he had the wrong guy. I don't know who attacked her, or what he did, but that guy looked ready to kill me," Kohaku explained.

"You can press charges against him," Sango informed him, and looked ready to do just that.

"No, I'm pretty sure it was a one time thing. I never met the guy before, and he had no idea who I was. I probably would have reacted the same way if I knew she was being harassed by someone," Kohaku replied, "I don't even know how long it's been going on. It could have just happened, or it's been happening. It would explain why she keeps to herself so much,"

"That's horrible," Sango commented gravely before her eyes widened slightly, "wait a minute. Your friend, she's the girl you introduced me to the other day, right?"

"Yeah," Kohaku replied, "why?"

"She's young, pretty, brunette, keeps to herself..." Sango began muttering to herself.

"Hold on!" Kohaku said once he understood what she was thinking, "you don't think she's connected to your case! Do you?"

"I can't be sure, but she fits the profile. What about her family, do you know if she has any? What about a job?" Sango asked as she started to jot down more notes in her notepad.

"I just met her!" Kohaku retorted.

"I know," Sango replied as she rubbed her temples, "and I can't even be sure that she's being harassed by the same person we're looking for. Can you keep tabs on her, for the time being? It'd be a great lead to the scumbag responsible if we knew his next target,"

"I – I don't know how likely that will be," Kohaku admitted, "she seemed pretty upset when I found out about the whole thing. She wouldn't look me in the eye when I left,"

"Perhaps she's embarrassed. Guilty even," Sango answered as she tapped the back of her pen against her chin and glanced at her case files, "Perhaps they all acted like that. Maybe that's why the one who took them chose these girls to begin with. He knew they wouldn't immediately seek out help, giving him enough time to kidnap them, unnoticed,"

"Can you please stop including Rin in this serial kidnapping case?" Kohaku asked with a deep grimace, "you can't know for sure that she's a target," he added.

"We can't be sure that she's isn't, either," Sango pointed out, "I know she's your friend, but we have to treed carefully. If she is the next victim, we can get the upper hand on this guy. She could be used as bait to lead him out, or maybe our connection to the inside of the whole operation, or even – "

"Stop!" Kohaku yelled before he slammed his hands on the table and stood, "Rin isn't going to be a part of any of that! I'll keep an eye on her, but I refuse to put her life in danger if she really is the next target," he commanded.

Sango only stared at him in surprise before her expression softened, "That's fine with me. I'm sorry, Kohaku. All I've been thinking about is this case, and I didn't even stop to consider your feelings,"

"Happy hunting," Kohaku scoffed before he left the table.

"Kohaku..." Sango called after him, but he ignored her as he made his way to their room and shut the door behind him. He collapsed onto his bed, which was only a few feet away from his sister's. A wall divider separated the small one bedroom into two spaces. One for his sister, and one for himself. It wasn't as private as he would have liked. It was moments like these that Kohaku wished they could have actual separate bedrooms, and not just one with a paper thin wall divider between them.

When Sango came in to sleep, he knew he'd have to face her. He had never lashed out at his sister before, and wondered why he had taken her comments about Rin so personally. He barely knew Rin, and yet he felt so tied to her. Perhaps Sango classifying her as a potential target in the serial kidnapping case brought out a new fear in him. A fear that, even though he denied the possibility with all of his being, his sister might be right.

A/N: Dun, dun, dun! Me, being the evil author that I am, will leave you all with that! Mwahahaha! (just kidding – expect an update soon!) Until next time!

P.S. I know this chapter was really Kohaku heavy, and I promise that won't be a forever thing. He's just my connection to Sango, who will become a big part of the rest of this story. I'm not promising that he'll disappear completely – he's still connected to Kagura after all – but he definitely will have less of a role in the upcoming chapters. Just wanted to let everyone know, in case they were worried!